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You are here: Home / Politics / Hubris Watch

Hubris Watch

by John Cole|  February 14, 200710:14 am| 38 Comments

This post is in: Politics

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Blogger #2 from the Edwards campaign resigns:

I regret to say that I have also resigned from the Edwards campaign. In spite of what was widely reported, I was not hired as a blogger, but a part-time technical advisor, which is the role I am vacating.

I would like to make very clear that the campaign did not push me out, nor was my resignation the back-end of some arrangement made last week. This was a decision I made, with the campaign’s reluctant support, because my remaining the focus of sustained ideological attacks was inevitably making me a liability to the campaign, and making me increasingly uncomfortable with my and my family’s level of exposure.

My favorite reaction by the blogosphere headhunters is some variation of this:

I don’t think I’ve read enough of her blog to know much about McEwan, but I can say this: she exhibited more class and dignity than Marcotte, even as I find it somewhat ironic that someone who calls my fellow Christians “christofascists” accuses others of unleashing “frightening ugliness, the likes of which anyone with a modicum of respect for responsible discourse would denounce without hesitation.”

In other words: “Hey- I hate her and she is an ugly bigot who deserved every vicious thing I said about her, but she was classy when she left the job she wanted to take to support her candidate. Aren’t I noble for noting her class. How big of me.”

/vomit.

Meanwhile, the disgusting Catholic asshole Bill Donohue still retains the wide support of these folks, apparently, because they have done nothing to beat him down. And that is how the game is played, these days, I guess. Bill Donohue, who is more disgusting and has a bigger audience than either of these two women, will face no scrutiny, will not be held to task for the disgusting and truly stupid things he says, because he is on the “right” side. I mean, after all, the man attended Just Us Sunday and worked to keep Schiavo on life support and hates gays and Jews and Democrats and Hollywood- this is our kind of guy!

Color me unimpressed.

Dear Republicans- it is ok to despise nuts like Donohue and nuts like Marcotte. I do it every day. There is no contradiction. In fact, the party will be better off if you would throw aside our nuts- but you won’t, if for no other reason that the Republican party is now so insane itself that it can not recognize that Donohue is, in fact, nuts.

*** Update ***

Bob at the Confederate Yankee thinks I have been unfair to him, and he is right.

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Reader Interactions

38Comments

  1. 1.

    pharniel

    February 14, 2007 at 10:16 am

    sadness.

  2. 2.

    Andrew

    February 14, 2007 at 10:27 am

    John Cole hates Republimerica.

  3. 3.

    zzyzx

    February 14, 2007 at 10:28 am

    My favorite response comes from National Review’s “Hillary Spot”:

    Is the lesson of this, “when your blogger embarrasses the campaign with controversial statements, fire them immediately”? Because if Edwards had done that last week, he would have made enemies among the netroots and perhaps won some respect from Catholic Democrats and folks tired of overheated rhetoric. And we would be talking about something different today. Instead, it’s been a weeklong story, nobody’s happy with him, and it’s been a perfect drip-drip-drip narrative.

    I’m still amused by anyone who thinks this will mean anything come March of this year let alone January of next. Just because we’re political junkies doesn’t mean that most people are paying any attention to anything for a few more seasons.

  4. 4.

    Krista

    February 14, 2007 at 10:32 am

    In fact, the party will be better off if you would throw aside our nuts-

    Particularly when they’re slapping the backsides of congressional pages.

  5. 5.

    Krista

    February 14, 2007 at 10:33 am

    That was over the line, wasn’t it? Sorry.

  6. 6.

    Pb

    February 14, 2007 at 10:42 am

    And meanwhile, Frank Gaffney is still out there, fabricating away in his hackish fever dreams of a strong, neo-con, fascist Abraham Lincoln to lead us into a new era of executing Congressmen for seditiously practicing freedom of speech! Or, as Glenn Greenwald puts it:

    Base. Servile. Unpatriotic. Morally treasonable. That about covers Gaffney and his fellow anti-liberty crusaders who seek to stifle criticism of the Leader by equating the most fundamental and defining American freedoms with “treason.”

  7. 7.

    Andrew

    February 14, 2007 at 10:43 am

    Not if the page was asking for it.

  8. 8.

    cleek

    February 14, 2007 at 10:48 am

    I mean, after all, the man attended Just Us Sunday and worked to keep Schiavo on life support and hates gays and Jes and Democrats and Hollywood

    poor Jes

  9. 9.

    pharniel

    February 14, 2007 at 10:50 am

    That was over the line, wasn’t it? Sorry.

    No that was all over the back of the page.

    In short, it was what I needed, so once again Canukistan provides it’s natural export, Comedy.

  10. 10.

    Bob Owens

    February 14, 2007 at 10:55 am

    John, as I stated clearly, and you were either too hyper to read or simply didn’t care to acknowledge, I don’t know much about McEwan or her blog. I was clear on that point. I made no comment about her appearance, am fairly certain an average person wouldn’t describe my comments about her comments as anything to get upset about, and they were hardly “vicious.” I took issue with some of her language, but clearly never attacked her as a person.

    I think I speak quite well on my own, thank you, and don’t require your overwrought hyperbole to stand in for me.

    As for Donohue, you missed the boat on that as well, if you are still attempting to use me as an example of “the wide support of these folks.” I note you don’t link to support your charge, perhaps because such links proving your assertion are hard to come by.

    While I can only cite my own commentary, I’ve stated the following about Mr. Donohue:

    Yesterday morning, I said:

    Marcotte attempts to shift the blame to Bill Donohue, a bigot in his own right (his views on Judaism turn the stomach), but the reality is that Marcotte and Donohue are flip sides of the same vile coin.

    I dedicated a post to Donohue alone, which stated in part:

    Considering the apparent shall we say, shared appreciation of the Jewish faith that Donahue and [former Klansman David] Duke seem to have in common, I think he better find a less self-immolating comparison.

    Here I simply called Donohue a “right-wing bigot.” Here I called him and the Catholic League he represents “bomb-throwers.”

    Feel free to disagree with me for what I’ve actually said, but try to refrain from self-abusing your own strawman.

  11. 11.

    John Cole

    February 14, 2007 at 11:08 am

    Bob-

    It ws not my intent to use your post as the perfect example of what I have seen, hence the term “variation.” Had I intended to use you as the example of precisely that, I would have said:

    “Here is a perfect example of…”

    It would be easier to find the right type of post if I could allow myself to link to that asshole Dan Riehl. I do understand why you feel I have been unfair to you, and I apologize.

  12. 12.

    Bubblegum Tate

    February 14, 2007 at 11:13 am

    Critcizing William Donohue for being a disgusting bigot just means you hate Catholics, John. It is anti-Catholic bigotry to point out Donohue’s bigotry, you bigot!

  13. 13.

    dreggas

    February 14, 2007 at 11:40 am

    Krista Says:

    That was over the line, wasn’t it? Sorry.

    Absolutely…NOT. It was spot on and funny as hell.

  14. 14.

    Zombie Santa Claus

    February 14, 2007 at 11:47 am

    Dear Republicans- it is ok to despise nuts like Donohue and nuts like Marcotte. I do it every day. There is no contradiction. In fact, the party will be better off if you would throw aside our nuts- but you won’t, if for no other reason that the Republican party is now so insane itself that it can not recognize that Donohue is, in fact, nuts.

    The nuts are what some of us keep coming back for, John.

  15. 15.

    The Commissar

    February 14, 2007 at 11:48 am

    John,

    Not to gig you endlessly, but given your own (and the blogosphere’s) reputation for engaging in a little snark, I suspected that the comments between you and Bob were going to end up with you nailing him again. In other words, your “he is right” falls a little short.

    Put a bold “update” right there and make it clear that Bob said/did the right thing re: Donohue.

    P.S. Good post on Hewitt and Herrington. I read Herrington’s book about his experience as an interrogator in Vietnam. Quite an eye-opener.

  16. 16.

    cleek

    February 14, 2007 at 11:51 am

    Donohue is too useful to ‘throw aside’.

  17. 17.

    Pb

    February 14, 2007 at 12:15 pm

    The nuts are what some of us keep coming back for, John.

    And the onion dip!

  18. 18.

    Darrell

    February 14, 2007 at 12:17 pm

    Put a bold “update” right there and make it clear that Bob said/did the right thing re: Donohue.

    Yeah, John’s was a bit of a weasel retraction with the qualifier John emphasizes that still claims Bob is a “variation” of those who “widely support” Donohue. It’s crap, but John no longer has the character or humility to make the unqualified retraction/apology which is deserved.

    It’s all part of John’s “last honest conservative” phoniness, conjuring up caricatured conservatives to bravely oppose.

    Feel free to disagree with me for what I’ve actually said, but try to refrain from self-abusing your own strawman

    John Cole = drama queen hyperbole + extreme self righteousness

  19. 19.

    Zifnab

    February 14, 2007 at 12:22 pm

    Bob Owens just comes across as so shrill. I wouldn’t worry about it, John. Especially when the top story on his site is a complaint that they didn’t give a black man raping a white woman at Duke University the wall-to-wall coverage it deserves.

  20. 20.

    Bob Smith

    February 14, 2007 at 12:23 pm

    “It ws not my intent to use your post as the perfect example of what I have seen, hence the term “variation.” Had I intended to use you as the example of precisely that, I would have said:

    “Here is a perfect example of…””

    Anyone else getting a “Jane Hamsher’s of the left” vibe?

  21. 21.

    John Cole

    February 14, 2007 at 12:26 pm

    Have the comments taken a turn for the bizarre? Yankee thinks I was unfair, I agree I was, update the post saying so, and… Darrell attacks me for it?

    FWIW- I still think you all were wrong about the Jane Hamsher’s comments, but I am not going down that road again.

  22. 22.

    demimondian

    February 14, 2007 at 12:28 pm

    Have the comments taken a turn for the bizarre?

    What do you mean “turn for the bizarre”. That implies they weren’t bizarre before.

    This has been another edition of OATSQ.

  23. 23.

    RSA

    February 14, 2007 at 12:30 pm

    Just because we’re political junkies doesn’t mean that most people are paying any attention to anything for a few more seasons.

    To follow up on this idea: The last survey I saw on blogging, back in early 2005, by Pew, found that 62% of American Internet users didn’t know what a blog was. That’s doubtless changed by now, but I imagine the average person hearing that two bloggers have resigned from Edwards’s campaign are likely to think, “Huh?” or maybe, “Why didn’t Edwards hire some A-loggers in the first place?”

  24. 24.

    Krista

    February 14, 2007 at 12:34 pm

    Have the comments taken a turn for the bizarre?

    …says the man whose blog is frequently commented upon by the chemically preserved brain of Santa Claus.

  25. 25.

    jg

    February 14, 2007 at 12:50 pm

    I thought the people on Free Press were bad because they post hateful comments but have a line of scripture in the signature. Check out the flies Marcotte has attracted:

    http://pandagon.net/2007/02/13/people-who-claim-to-love-jesus-write-me/#more-4727

  26. 26.

    ThymeZone

    February 14, 2007 at 1:08 pm

    John Cole = drama queen hyperbole + extreme self righteousness

    Still the biggest ass on the board, Darrell. Jesus, not my yard man. You are the Ass King.

  27. 27.

    Tsulagi

    February 14, 2007 at 1:09 pm

    In fact, the party will be better off if you would throw aside our nuts-

    Particularly when they’re slapping the backsides of congressional pages.

    ::GASP:: Miss Krista, as a Confederate Yankee I do declare that response gave me a case of the vapors.

    Was a funny line.

  28. 28.

    Zifnab

    February 14, 2007 at 1:33 pm

    Have the comments taken a turn for the bizarre? Yankee thinks I was unfair, I agree I was, update the post saying so, and… Darrell attacks me for it?

    There’s blood in the water. If you start apologizing to a guy that regularly links to Malkin because you used his post as a model of what Malkin and Friends are bullshitting about today, who knows what you’ll start apologizing for next.

    You were free and clear to pick out Owens has a model wingnut. If he doesn’t like it, maybe he shouldn’t say stupid shit that resonates with all the other stupid shit the right-wing is saying.

    My favorite reaction by the blogosphere headhunters is some variation of this:

    Careful with that mealy-mouthed apolorehea. You’ll start sounding like a moderate Democrat.

  29. 29.

    The Other Andrew

    February 14, 2007 at 1:44 pm

    Wait a second–a conservative blog dedicated to Hillary is called the “Hillary Spot”? I am living in a farce.

    Also, people who support our current President aren’t in any position to accuse others of being self-righteous, given the whole “guided by god” thing.

    And, finally, John’s conservatism has never presented a problem for me, but, as a Bengals’ fan, his support of the Steelers is a major issue. (We may not have a defense, but our quarterback can find his way out of a paper bag with both hands and a flashlight, whereas Big Ben…!)

  30. 30.

    The Other Andrew

    February 14, 2007 at 1:50 pm

    …whoops, that’s the wrong thread for the football comment. My bad, all.

  31. 31.

    Ellison, Ellensburg, Ellers, and Lambchop

    February 14, 2007 at 3:15 pm

    In other words: “Hey- I hate her and she is an ugly bigot who deserved every vicious thing I said about her, but she was classy when she left the job she wanted to take to support her candidate. Aren’t I noble for noting her class. How big of me.”

    Your reading is way off on every level. Besides Owens’ comments on Donohue, he only said McEwan was classier than Marcotte. Hell, I’m sure there are crackwhores that are classier than Marcotte. It’s damning her with faint praise, rather than saying she was ever classy. So your “in other words” is (like every “Shorter:”) the most convenient misinterpretation that fits your agenda.

  32. 32.

    ThymeZone

    February 14, 2007 at 3:47 pm

    So, EEEL, political commentary in an era of collapsed American values and government, useless dishonest war, and corporate thuggery against citizens … is all about “class?”

    What do you care about “class?” Do you think you have “class?” Would a “classy” government put its citizens in the shithole we’re in?

    Speak, teach us.

  33. 33.

    Zifnab

    February 14, 2007 at 5:33 pm

    Hell, I’m sure there are crackwhores that are classier than Marcotte.

    I’m sure you’re an expert on the subject.

  34. 34.

    Badtux

    February 14, 2007 at 6:26 pm

    I think what has been interesting in all of this is the sound of crickets coming from Edwards HQ. He hired a couple of attack dogs for his staff, then muzzled and chained them when the enemy decided to come knocking at the door, instead of turning them loose to rip the throat out of that vile pile of rancid bigotry called Bill Donohue. And yeah, I consider Marcotte an attack dog, she’s deleted a couple of my postings and banned me from time to time when she got completely batshit when I point out that sometimes a cigar is just a cigar rather than a patriarchial taunt about woman’s lack of a penis. Anyhow, the first thing the enemy wants to do, when coming to your house to kill you, is get rid of your attack dogs. They didn’t even have to do that in Edwards’ case, because Edwards put a muzzle and a choke collar and a 3 foot long chain on his attack dogs while Bill held raw meat an inch away from their noses until his attack dogs suffocated themselves and left Edwards’s campaign.

    If you’re going to hire attack dogs, you gotta let’em loose to tear some throats out, that’s how it’s done in the era of Rove, just ask the steaming corpse of John McCain’s 2000 Presidential campaign or the steaming carcass of John Kerry’s 2004 Presidential campaign. And if you don’t want attack dogs, you shouldn’t hire them in the first place. This whole episode makes me even less likely to support Edwards, because it points out some serious deficiencies in his judgement.

  35. 35.

    Ditch Digger

    February 14, 2007 at 6:56 pm

    The non-story that just won’t die. Edwards hires people to run the interactive internet portion of his website and chooses 2 people with experience in that field. He didn’t hire them to post their opinions on policy or anything. Anything ‘they’ would have ‘posted’ would have been vetted 50 or 60 times by at least 35 staff members after the focus groups reacted positively.

    Marcotte is a vulgar person, proven time and again, it didn’t make her unqualified for the job she was set to do.

    Next week we’ll find out that the Edwards campaign hired a plumber to fix that damned clogged toilet who once got drunk in a bar and said bad things about Sweden, or the Pope, or something, and his campaign will again be ‘doomed’.

  36. 36.

    J. Michael Neal

    February 14, 2007 at 7:26 pm

    In short, it was what I needed, so once again Canukistan provides it’s natural export, Comedy.

    I’ve been to Canada and, you know what? THEY AREN’T THAT DAMNED FUNNY! Which leads me to conclude that, while we’ve been off fighting the good fight in the Balkans and the Middle East, there has very quietly been an episode of ethnic cleansing going on right under our noses, or over our heads, if you prefer. Entire families of funny Canadians have been driven across our northern border, collecting themselves in refugee camps in Chicago and New York, that they sarcastically call “Comedy Clubs.”

    The entire population of the United States has watched this unfolding tragedy, and LAUGHED at it. Sure, we allow the particularly cute ones, like John Candy and Michael J. Fox, to appear on television specials for our entertainment.

    And don’t even get me started on the whole Shatner Incident.

  37. 37.

    Randolph Fritz

    February 16, 2007 at 9:40 pm

    You use the word “nuts” too loosely; Marcotte, whatever her failings is sane, and sane enough to know that facing death threats is unwise. What Donohue is doing–call it trolling for psychotics. He may not be a murderer, his boss may not be, but somewhere in his audience there’s someone who might be. Amanda Marcotte is realistic in her fears, and may yet find herself targeted. A man of comparable views would be in less danger; think on that.

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  1. Balloon Juice says:
    February 14, 2007 at 11:10 am

    […] Bob at the Confederate Yankee thinks I have been unfair to him, and he is right. […]

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